With Labor Day on the horizon, the timing is excellent to take advantage of summer’s best in-season fruit: Strawberries!

Celebrity Chef Luca Manfè, winner of Masterchef Season 4 (see bio below), and brand ambassador for Italian confectionary Bauli, brings us his recipe for summer’s sweetest treat, Strawberry Shortcake with Bauli Mini Chocolate Croissants & Whipped Cream. Chef Manfè puts a unique twist on the traditional strawberry shortcake recipe by using Bauli Mini Chocolate Croissants as the tasty base ingredient. The result is a dessert that will make a perfect ender for your final summer cookouts as we bid the season adieu.

Plating
Place 2 halved mini croissants on a plate, cover each one with 1 T of whipped cream and finish off with strawberries.

About Chef Manfè

Chef Luca Manfè has been in the restaurant business since he was 16 years old, working in a pub in his small hometown in Northeast Italy. When he turned 21, he started to travel the world, working in Italy, Australia, Florida, and New York. He had the privilege and honor to work with great chefs, experiencing ingredients and techniques from different cuisines. Ultimately, he landed in New York City, in pursuit of the American dream. Fast forward ten years, and Luca has certainly achieved what he set out to accomplish. Today, Luca is a successful cookbook author, releasing his first cookbook, “My Italian Kitchen,” in May, 2014. He also runs a small catering company called “Dinner with Luca,” and serves as brand ambassador for Italian confectionary company, Bauli. Luca is the first male (and non-American) to win the title of MasterChef USA. For more information on Chef Manfe, visit http://lucamanfe.com/